WO2015026222A1

WO2015026222A1 - Vehicle license plate, method for the production and printing thereof, and a linear digital printer for carrying out said printing

Info

Publication number: WO2015026222A1
Application number: PCT/MX2014/000134
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jesús Armando MEJÍA MANJARREZ; Juan Antonio RAMÍREZ MEDINA
Original assignee: DÍAZ LÓPEZ, Eduardo
Priority date: 2013-08-23
Filing date: 2014-08-22
Publication date: 2015-02-26
Also published as: MX2013009751A; MX361744B

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic integrated modular system for the continuous variable digital inkjet (drop-on-demand) printing of flat templates for vehicle license plates. The system comprises modules for feeding in, aligning, registering, printing, curing and stacking the templates produced. The printing is carried out using UV inks of different colours visible under infrared light. The invention also relates to a template for a vehicle license plate or to the vehicle license plate itself. The invention further relates to a method for feeding in the templates and to a method for producing same.

Description

VEHICLE PLATE, MANUFACTURING AND PRINTING METHOD E

LINEAR DIGITAL PRINTER TO PREPARE IT DESCRIPTION

Background and field of the invention

The present invention relates to an integral system for producing vehicle plates with security means to prevent its alteration, more specifically it refers to an automated integral system for continuous variable digital printing by inkjet (drip on demand) of flat plate templates vehicular, to a method for printing vehicle identification plate templates and to a linear digital printer to print said license plate templates. The system is of the modular type in which the modules interact with each other to achieve the production of templates for vehicle license plates.

The following patent documents are known: 8, 197, 631 issued to Oz, and refers to a method for transferring prints on substrates comprising printing a UV-curable substance on a polymeric transfer material. The method comprises coating with a UV-curing substance on a polymeric release layer, only in regions where it is not desired to transfer to the substrate. Such step and its subsequent are not part of the present invention.

Also known is US Patent 7,117,794 issued to Taffinder which refers to a method for making a plate comprising feeding a transparent sheet material having an opaque material in contact with one of its main surfaces at a printing station, printing it is done in reverse on the surfaces Main, this method is not described in the present application.

Patent 6,790,578 issued to Rajan is also known which refers to the printing of a reflective sheet resistant to the environment. It refers to printing by means of toner, which is not a reason for the present application.

Patent 6,570,674 "License piate frame and method and apparatus for making the same" is known in the medium, which refers to the printing of a plate frame, not to the manufacture of the plate itself.

There is also no online printer with the ability to print ink on an elastomeric laminating material (overlay), commercially available by 3M (or some other similar brand), that the ink has the property of strongly adhering to the elastomeric material, while maintain its properties of brilliance, color and resistance to attacks by products such as soap, alcohol, acetone, etc. The chemical composition of this material, commercially known in the field. Plate manufacturing as a rolling mill is unknown because it is owned by companies that produce it.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a comprehensive system comprising the equipment and processes necessary to print a vehicle plate template with ultraviolet drying ink and that the finished templates are stacked in adjustable piles in the number of templates that they form them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel process for printing inkjet templates of vehicle plates which have on their outer surface a reflective laminating material such as the material commonly referred to as "laminator" sold by 3M or another supplier that. Withstands weather conditions such as ultraviolet radiation, water, soap, dry-wet cycles typical of the environment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a modular system which can grow depending on the desired production and drying times of the inks.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for feeding or providing templates of vehicle plates with inks of different colors.

As used in the present invention, template plates, vehicle license plate templates or vehicle license plates are interchangeable terms indicating that the system and its modules are intended to work laminated with or without reflective material and with or without printing. Preferred material with reflective material to which a laminator is applied. For comparison, the templates used here are 30 cm long and 15 cm wide. These dimensions are illustrative only. The templates or plates can be larger or smaller, being limited only by the dimensions of the built system.

An additional object is to provide an electronically controllable automatic system to vary the supply speed of the templates for vehicle plates, without the need to change mechanisms.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a module for automatic feeding of vehicle license plate templates.

Still another object of the present invention is a method for feeding vehicle license plate templates to a additional processing equipment such as, for example, printing or automatic embossing equipment.

Brief Description of the Invention

It provides a modular system for printing templates of vehicle plates, the system is modular, continuous, inkjet printing of different colors that is dried by UV. The printing is done on a material called laminator under which a reflective material with or without prints and with or without security elements such as holograms may or may not be placed. The print made is checked by means of a certification module located before the stacking module. Finally, the system is complemented with a stacking module whose main characteristic is to work in batches in order to reduce the space and length of the equipment. By stacking the plates vertically, the space needed to contain them is reduced and therefore that of the system as a whole.

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the system for the production of vehicle license plate templates that includes a feed module, an alignment module, a template detection and registration module, a linear inkjet printing module, a reading module and template certification and a template stacking module. FIG. 2 is a perspective sheet feeder view taken from the front, that is from the template outlet.

FIG. 3 a detailed view of the output of the templates to the next work module.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view and includes the feeder outlet and the transmission system to move a pacifier mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the mechanism of rotation and sliding of the pacifier mechanism taken from the front of the feeder at the start of the stroke of a cam mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the mechanism of rotation and sliding of the pacifier mechanism taken from the front of the feeder at the end of the cam mechanism stroke.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the coupling between the gearmotor, a coupling plate between the motor and a connecting rod to drive the pacifier mechanism with the mechanism of rotation and sliding of the pacifier mechanism at the end of its stroke.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the coupling area between the gearmotor, the coupling plate and a support plate.

FIG. 9 is a view taken from the exit of the templates inside the rectangular receptacle that houses a second support guide plate for sliding and advancing the pacifier mechanism and is placed next to the sliding mechanism and runs longitudinally with the direction of advancement of this sliding mechanism. FIG. 10 is a view showing the area where the feed module 100 delivers the templates to the roller-based alignment module 200.

FIG. 11 is a view of the alignment module taken from the power module in the direction of travel of the templates

FIG. 12 shows the junction zone between the alignment module 200 and the detection and registration module 300, also shows the start of the printing module 400.

FIG. 13 is a view of a printhead, its support and the curing module band 500.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view taken from the side of the stacking module 600 and a second curing and certification module (partially), a second printing-additional module, a first curing and certification module are shown in the foreground , a first printing module and the alignment module.

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view that includes the stacking module, a printing module coupled to a certification module

FIG. 16 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of the present invention in which a distribution and dimensions of an automated integral system for continuous inkjet printing of templates for vehicle plates are included.

Detailed description of the invention

It should be emphasized that in this document, the product obtained is a vehicle license plate template when this template is subsequently embossed. When you will no longer take any further treatment, Then you get a vehicle license plate instead of a template. Therefore, the term vehicle license plate template and vehicle license plate should be understood as being the same product for explanatory purposes.

Taking FIG. 1 as a starting point, the system object of the present invention is a modular system which comprises an automatic feeding module 100 which feeds by strips and delivers the templates by means of pacifiers one by one and connects in line and in coordination with the rest of the system. Following the flow of preparation of the plate, the system further comprises an alignment module 200, which receives the generally misaligned plate templates and aligns them so that their longitudinal edges run parallel to an imaginary line (LI) and points towards the advance the printing process so that the prints are perfectly aligned with the longitudinal edges of the template according to the selected design.

It is followed by the detection and registration module 300 where the leading edge and the final edge of the template are detected in order to coordinate with the printing module 400. Following the printing module 400, a curing module and / or template reading and certification 550, in which ultraviolet light is applied to cure UV ink and / or a character reader with OCR 550 and it is certified that the templates are not badly printed and that the marks that were intended to be printed agree With the planned. Finally, the system comprises a template stacking module 600, which works in coordination with the previous modules so that there is a continuous flow of plates despite working this module in batches, forming stacks of templates and not moving until the number of templates per stack accumulates.

The system comprises, in its preferred embodiment, a printing module, a curing module and a reading and certification module, alternate modalities of the invention includes any combination of these modules provided that for each printing module there is a print module. cured. The reading and certification module is optional and can be placed before or after each of the printing module or curing module although preferably it is located after the curing module.

In FIG. 1, the main control system 700 is represented by a screen (which in the preferred mode is a touch screen) and the print control system is represented by a keyboard screen. Control systems 700, 800, can be located on site or remotely.

The feed module 100 preferably comprises a pulse system comprising a motor 101 (FIGS. 1, 7) and any motion transmission means (not shown) such as chains or bands for driving a transport means 102 such as a belt (FIG. 2), the feeding module is coordinated with the alignment module 200 so that it maintains the feeder travel speed and there is no lag or unwanted gaps in the template production line, the module 200 receives its feed rate from a main control system 700 that works in conjunction with an 800 printing system. The main control and printing systems 700, 800, each comprise computer equipment interrelated with each other, each with its respective set of steps to be executed but working together to in order to achieve the production of the templates with the desired speed and characteristics.

It should be noted that all the constituent elements of the system are placed on a base or frame on which additional components are also mounted to the main ones described below, for example the computer equipment, PLC, regulators, motors, connection tablets, turbines of suction, suction boxes, variable speed drives, etc. For simplicity of description the detail of the base and the way in which it joins the different modules are omitted.

The description of the feeding system 100 is started considering a first ZA feeding zone (FIG. 2), opposite a template exit zone (ZS), the ZA zone comprises a horizontal receptacle generally in the form of a rectangular box opened by the upper part, within which the templates 103 for the license plate are housed. The templates 103 are transported by means of a band 102 to a separation zone for subsequent placement on a perforated conveyor suction band 105.

The rectangular box comprises two side walls 104 that run parallel to each other and comprise inner faces in which at least one guide 104a and preferably two or more guides 104a are placed that prevent the lateral vertical edges of the templates from rubbing against the inner faces of the side walls 104. The construction material and physical form of these guides 104a are selected so as to reduce friction between these two components. For example polished chrome steel. These guides end where frame 111 begins (FIGS. 2, 4). In a preferred embodiment one of the walls 104 is shorter in length in order to be able to manually feed the feed module 100 on one side.

The conveyor belt 102 and the perforated conveyor belt 105 are driven by means of respective motors 101 and 108. Both motors comprise speed reducers and electromechanical devices (encoders) for the electronic regulation of their working speed.

The power module 100 can be fed manually or automatically and is filled with plates to make the templates. It is not a requirement to fully fill the feeder, but since it is a high-speed device (typically 80 to 100 templates per minute), it is not economical or practically advisable to place only a few templates in the feeder.

The floor of the rectangular box is constituted by the band 102 and the support fund 106 (FIG. 2).

When the template plates leave the rectangular box, it begins a decline of the same with an angle of approximately 30 ° + 10 ° with respect to the horizontal. The walls that laterally circumscribe this decline are a continuation of the walls 104, as well as the guides 104a. The floor of this inclined part (also called the separation zone) (FIG. 3) comprises a floor 109 on which guides 108 are placed.

As described above, the feeding zone ZA comprises a rectangular receptacle that houses a conveyor belt 102 with the ability to carry 300 kg of template material, supported on a base (not shown). The templates 103 are placed, in a preferred embodiment, with their longer sides parallel to the horizontal. That is, with its lower or longer edge on the band 102 and with the useful face (the face on which the alphanumeric characters are printed) facing the direction of advance of the band.

The rectangular receptacle comprises the walls 104 (FIG. 2) that run along the entire length of the band 102. In the above-described embodiment one of the walls runs only for a fraction of the length and ends in the separation zone, this implies that the load of the system is preferably on one side of the power module 100. While this embodiment comprises a different wall as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, other modalities are allowed where it is the other wall that is shorter, both are short or both have the total length of the feed module.

As indicated above, the walls of the separation zone are a continuation of the walls 104 but with a downward inclination of approximately 30 °. This inclination is intended to mechanically separate the templates in order to ensure the delivery of one template at a time and without obstruction to a pacifier mechanism located in the exit zone ZS (FIG. 3).

At the end of the feeding zone ZA and just at the beginning of the separation zone, a step 107 (FIG. 3) and at least two lower guides 108 and preferably four lower guides 108 of similar construction to guides 104a, or construction are located different as long as it meets the object of avoiding the friction of the lower horizontal edge of the templates with the upper face of the base 109. The upper face of the guides 108 starts at the same level as the upper surface of the base 109. The level of the upper face of guides 108 increases as move towards the output of the templates to the desired level.

It is important to note that the bottom or bottom face 106 of the feeding zone ZA is bifurcated and the conveyor belt 102 with its respective bearing surface (not shown) passes through. The conveyor belt 102 stops transporting the templates right in the transition zone because they fall due to gravity due to step 107 and the floor inclination of the separation zone ZS. This inclination can vary from 20 ° to 50 ° with respect to the feed band 102, with an angle of 30 ° being preferred. The side walls follow this same inclination

In a preferred embodiment, the belt has a minimum transport capacity of approximately 300 kg.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3, there are at least two bolts 110 placed in a frame 111 sized and configured so that the templates 103 pass through it. Bolts 110 are fastened from this frame and a blow nozzle is placed of air 110a (FIGS 2, 3 and 4) to blow air over the templates closer to the outlet and further favor the separation of the templates.

The bolts 110 are placed horizontally to prevent the templates 103 from falling on a transition table 112 (see FIGS. 2, 3) placed just at the end of the first part of the feeder. These bolts are designed and positioned so that they support the weight of the templates located in the separation zone. Under the frame 111 and between this frame and the suction band with perforations 105, the transition table 112 is located. The bolts 110 are horizontally slidable to adjust their overlap with the templates as seen in, for example, FIG. 3. The purpose of this transition table 112 is to capture the templates that for some situation were not taken correctly by the pacifier mechanism or that fell as a result of the weight exerted by the rest of the templates on the closest to the exit. This table comprises at least one proximity sensor 113 (FIG 3), which sends a signal to the main control system indicating the presence of a template on table 112. If the template is not removed in a predetermined time, an electronic subsystem It generates a signal in the control system 700, to indicate that there was a failure to capture at least one template, and this will stop the operation of the entire system, obviously including the power module 100.

Pacifiers 114 (FIG. 2) comprise a first end 114a that will be in contact with the template and sucks air and a second end 114b that connects to a vacuum hose, end 114a is attached to end 114b by means of an element hollow tubular 114c. To take the templates the system produces a vacuum between the first end 114a of the pacifiers and the work face of the template 103. In order that there is no over suction, at least two stops 115 are placed. This ensures that the pacifiers They can retract the template immediately in front of them. To achieve this, a sufficient force (depending on the weight of the plate) must be applied to overcome the stops 110. These stops 110 are located and sized so as not to allow the templates 103 to fall on the transition table 112 as a result of the number of templates placed on the first template, that is, the closest to the transition table.

When the pacifiers pull the template, it flexes allowing it to be released from the stops 110. buffers 110 are bevelled at their end that faces into the frame 111, so as to facilitate the exit of the template (FIG. 3).

Once the template is separated from the plate, the arm 117 of the pacifier and stop mechanism rotates to place it exactly parallel to the horizontal on the perforated band 105, as seen in FIG. 2, which has at its base 116 (FIG. 2) a series of holes that work together with the perforations of the perforated band 105 and a turbine (not shown), to produce sufficient suction to hold the templates on the band . Since there is a suction above the perforated band 105, the template is attached to the perforated band 105 and thus moves exactly with the speed with which the band 105 moves, which is controlled and adjusted by the control system main 700.

The pacifier and stop mechanism is driven by a gearmotor 118 with encoder, which is controlled by the main control system 700.

The perforated band 105 works in conjunction with a turbine (not shown) generally located below the same band, although it can also be located next to it, by using a suction chamber 119 (FIG. 2). This band with perforations 105 finally delivers the template to the alignment module for further processing.

Both the air blowing means 110a and the pacifiers 114 require a pneumatic system (not shown), which is also sized and positioned so as to provide the necessary air consumption for the correct operation of the feed module 100. With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the arm 117 of the pacifier mechanism is in its initial or rest position, as the motor rotates, the arm 117 begins its rotation to place the bottom part of the pacifiers 114 against the front face of the template for Suction it and take it to the band with perforations 105. In operation this position corresponds to both the deposit and the start of the journey towards the taking of a template. In FIG. 3 the working position of the frame template 111 (without the template) is observed. In this position a crank 122 (FIGS. 4, 7) is located in its contracted position. In the same FIG. 4, an air suction valve can be observed for actuating the pacifiers in the portion 114b. FIG. 4 shows the round trip of the crank to take the template approximately halfway, note the position of the crank 122 and the coupling plate 120 with the gearmotor 118.

As is evident, the crank mechanism will follow a path determined by several factors, among which is the distance that the pacifiers must travel and the difference in heights between the tank of the plate and the taking of the template.

To achieve a continuous tour, several mechanical elements are provided:

- a main slide car 124;

- a first support guide plate 128; Y

- a second support guide plate 131.

The main slide carriage 124 comprises (FIGS. 4-8) a work plate 125 generally rectangular in shape with a rounded central portion 125a, in front view, an upper end 125b and a lower end 125c. At each upper and lower end, a sliding carriage 126 comprising means for cleaning 126a, in both directions, the rail 127 where they slide is placed by means of screws.

The rails 127 are equal in configuration and size and are placed parallel to each other on the support guide plate 128. The support guide plate is rigid so that it can support, through the projection 128b, the weight of the gearmotor 118 and the work Mechanical sliding of the sliding carriage and the crank 122 with its different components. As a guide, a groove 128a is included just half the distance between the rails 127. A groove passes through this groove that helps support the torque generated by the movement of the pacifier mechanism. For this, the bearing comprises an axis or arrow that passes through the center of the work plate 125, to this axis is coupled a first coupling means 129 (FIG. 7) which is removably attached to the front face of the work plate 125 by means of a second coupling means 130 located on the rear face of the work plate 125 (FIGS. 5 and 7).

The work plate 125 comprises a projection 125d, which is removably coupled to the crank 122 by means of a first end 121, the other end of the crank (second end 123) is connected to an eccentric coupling plate 120 which It is detachably attached to the gearmotor 118, thereby achieving that the circular movement of the output of the geared motor becomes an oscillating movement transmits to the main sliding carriage 124, which in turn transmits it to the pacifier mechanism. The power module further comprises a rectangular cover in which various accessories are housed for the operation of the module such as hoses, connectors, cables etc., but also houses the second support guide plate 131 (FIG. 9).

The second plate 131 comprises a groove in an undulating and elongated shape in order to give additional support to the sliding carriage and compensate for the torque generated and the effect of the movement of the pacifiers. A bearing 133 slides through the groove 132 which joins a crank arm 134 that joins the same arrow that passes through the center of the work plate 125.

FIG. 7 shows in detail the assembly between the gearmotor 118, the projection 125 of the work plate 125, the eccentric coupling plate 120 and the handle 122. To transmit the controlled movement of the gearmotor to the sliding carriage and from there to the driving mechanism pacifiers and bumpers.

The speed of the conveyor belt 102 is synchronized with the speed of template production by the pacifier mechanism driven by the gearmotor 118.

In addition to gearmotors, motor speed control devices are known as encoders, which detect the instantaneous motor speed and transform it into readable information by the main control system 700 for processing and control.

The feed module is complemented by the perforation suction band 105, which is driven by means of a gearmotor (not shown). This band receives templates from pacifier arm 117 and transports them to the machinery it will feed. The system can initially be manually fed and filled with templates in at least part of the separation zone to start the operation of the system. It is not a requirement to completely fill the separation zone for system startup, but since it is a high-speed template movement device (typically 80 to 100 templates per minute), it is not economically or practically advisable to place only a few how many templates in the system or, in the worst case, manually feed the system template by template.

The separation zone of the feeding module comprises a series of elements that ensure a correct separation between the templates, also includes elements that separate each template and elements that prevent the templates from falling by gravity to an intermediate zone. It is required to separate the templates because they accumulate in the feeder, they tend to "stick".

The elements that ensure the correct separation are (see FIG. 3): a step 107 placed between the feeding zone ZA and the separation zone ZS. Downstream of this step, faded bars 108 are located which gradually increase their height and, therefore, the level of the templates from the level of the step to their working position. This elevation is approximately 0.5 cm although it is only demonstrative and indicates that there is a separation between the base 109 of the separation zone and the bottom edge of the templates so that friction between the templates and the base of the area is reduced of separation as it happens with the lateral walls of this same zone of separation and of the zone of feeding. The present invention also provides a method for automatically feeding vehicle license plate templates.

The method comprises the steps of:

a) establish operating parameters such as characters to be printed, their position, colors, working speeds etc .;

b) feed laterally with templates, move the templates through a strip to a separation zone and separate them, by mechanical means;

c) hold the templates by suction; d) remove the templates from the separation zone by means of a pacifier and stop mechanism; Y

e) place the templates on a perforated conveyor belt.

The method comprises the additional step of f) refilling the feeding zone ZA with templates so that these are automatically fed by means of the conveyor belt 104 towards the separation zone S.

The suction band of the feed module is driven by means of a gearmotor monitored by an encoder connected to the main control system 700 to control its speed and coordinate it with the rest of the belts and rollers.

Working together with the power module 100, the alignment module 200 is coupled immediately afterwards (FIGS. 10, 11 and 12). It comprises a frame 201, a series of rollers 202 driven by links 203, which are connected to a grooved arrow (not shown) driven by a gearmotor (not shown). The grooves of the grooved arrow are made so that each one matches a corresponding groove (not shown) of the corresponding roller 202 to which they will drive. Where the grooves of the grooved arrow are perpendicular to the grooves of the rollers 202. The grooved arrow can be constructed in one piece or two or more pieces, coupled together by mechanical means as is known in the field of transmission of power.

Between the alignment module and the power module, a position sensor 204 is located, which detects the passage or not of the templates, coordinates and verifies that a plate left the feeder towards the alignment module and certifies that it Enter the alignment module. Coordinate this movement with the movement of the stacker 600.

The rollers 202 (see figs. 8 and 9) are slightly tapered and the smaller diameter is close to a guide bar 205, which is constructed of suitable material so that there is a low coefficient of friction and at the same time has a high resistance to wear

In the preferred embodiment, a bar 205 constructed of chromed steel has been selected. The guide bar is attached to the frame by at least one support 206 which consists of a round or square bar, removably attached to the frame 201 and in turn removably attaches to the guide bar in order to place the guide bar in position desired. Along the support 206, the guide bar 205 slides in order to align and position it with respect to the feed module 100 and the registration and 300 and print modules 400 (FIGS 12 and 13).

At both ends of the rollers 203 a bearing is placed so that the roller 202 rotates around it, each bearing is attached to the frame by means of a support 207 placed at each end of each roller. The number and Roller dimensions 202 will depend on the desired production and the size of the vehicle templates.

As indicated, the present is a modular system that adjusts in length and power depending on the desired production, for example, the preferred mode of the system of the present invention has an approximate total length of 4.34 linear meters for a production between 80 and 120 templates per minute, preferably 90, regardless of the print density of the templates. This length includes the alignment module, the registration module, and the printing module and the curing module, (For example: for a sheet of 30 x 15, per minute, printing 90 templates, the band speed of the printing module is between 0.9 and 1.5 meters per minute)

As shown in FIG. 10, in line with the alignment module, the detection and registration module 300 using a vacuum band 301 is located, which will transport the templates through this detection and registration module and the printing module 400.

The registration module comprises a position sensor 302 (FIG. 10), which detects the start and the end of the template and sends this information to the main control system 700 to coordinate with the printing system 800 in order to Print the information previously uploaded to the print system database to the template.

As in the case of the vacuum band 104, the vacuum band 301 comprises perforations to allow the suction of the template and therefore its attachment to this band 301. The position sensor 302 is mounted on a base 303 which is You can slide up and down in order to give it its correct position with respect to the template. The suction is generated by at least one suction turbine 304 placed just below the support plate 305 of the suction band 301. The base 303 is placed on the arm 306 which allows the base horizontal movement across the width of the conveyor belt 301 (Fig. 12). The number of turbines and the length of the suction band 301 will depend on the number of templates, size and weight thereof among other factors. To make a suitable suction, a suction box (shown schematically in FIG. 2 with numeral 119) is constructed below the band support. The suction box, in the preferred embodiment, is located just below the band support plate and in fact the top cover of the suction box is the band support plate 301. The suction box comprises 4 turbines (not shown) and are distributed evenly along the band's path. In the support plate of the band there are holes that connect the suction box with holes located in its upper part and in the conveyor belt by suction 301 (FIG. 13).

As seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, in line with the detection and registration module 300, the printing module 400 is located, which consists of at least one printhead 401, in fluid communication with a respective ink supply (not shown). The print head is mounted on a support 402 which allows the movement of the head in an ascending and descending manner, in turn, the support is mounted on a frame 403 which rests on both sides of the band, to allow displacement of the print head and support in order to place the head in the best printing position. The electrical connections are made through the 404 bus which allows the movement of the cables without risk of abuse for them. The head 401 communicates with the printing system 800 which sends indications regarding the characters to be printed and the position in which they will be printed.

As noted above, the printing module 400 not only prints traditional characters but also has the ability to print micro text, which imparts characteristic features to vehicle license plate templates that allow it to be more difficult to falsify, and any stored typeface in a database contained in the 800 printing system. In addition to microtext, the printing of extremely thin lines, together with a virtually perfect registration printing, allows the printing of edges or centers or designs difficult to achieve if it is not for printing as in the case of the present invention.

Ink has the ability to withstand the weather, attacks on certain common aggressive agents such as alcohol, acetone, gasoline, soap, etc. The ink used in the present invention is one of the type sold by DPST Inks, LLC under the trade name DPMV3 UV.

The printing module may comprise two or more printheads, in any combination of colors. Between the print heads 405 ink curing stations can be placed in order to improve the quality of the prints.

The printheads are controlled by the printing system 800 which comprises a data base that indicates what is going to be printed and in what part of the template, colors and combinations of security that the template requires.

The impression achieved on the laminator is such that it is not possible to peel the paint by scraping for example. An attempt to remove the ink causes permanent damage to the laminator, which will be visible to a trained person.

The printing control system 800 comprises a physical data storage medium that coordinates with the devices of the integral system object of the invention in order to print the templates on record. The system 800 comprises a printing program, database management and utilities, whose function is to control all the information related to the printing of the printhead or printheads, to print to register as requested by the user.

Printing is done by means of the inkjet technique, specifically drop by demand, which favors printing with the required speed and accuracy.

The lamps are UV lamp, which remain lit shortly before the start of the integral system, in order to have the proper operating temperature. The lamps do not go out precisely to ensure that curing is carried out properly.

Once the template has been printed, it must go to the curing module to complete the printing process. The time and intensity of radiation are determined by the ink manufacturer.

The printing is done so that the template is counterfeit proof, the anti-counterfeiting characteristic is given by the process of digital printing of UV-curable ink on the laminated material and specifically, the printing of the plate can be done so that they are printed barcodes, different types of letters with perfectly defined combinations of spaces and sizes of the order of 0.1 mm accuracy, for example placing black letters of a color with borders of a different color or with microtext in some parts of the template, with infrared and reflective visibility due to the effect of the reflective material underlying the laminator. It is estimated that these impressions cannot be achieved otherwise if it is not by the method of the present invention using the integral system described herein.

The printing module is designed and constructed to print alphanumeric characters and any other computer printable character (including microprinting such as microtext) in black or color at the speed that allows to mobilize between 80 and 100, preferably 90 templates per minute. These features prevent the templates from being falsified. The system is designed and built so that visible microtext can be printed only by means of a magnifying glass, you can print the alphanumeric edges with different colors, the fill with another and even a series of prints difficult to achieve by any means other than printing by inkjet.

Immediately after the printing module, the curing module 500 (FIGS. 14 and 15) is located, which must be placed at the proper distance for the ink to cure at the right time. As already indicated, curing is carried out by means of UV 501 lamps for a time perfectly defined by the type and color of the ink. The templates are transported on a conveyor belt 502, which is driven by a geared motor (not shown) which is controlled by the main control system 700 so that it has the linear speed required to achieve the UV exposure time of the ink . The linear speed of the band 502 is usually different from the linear speed. of the print band 301 due to the exposure time a for UV ink curing.

Once the curing process is completed, the templates go to the reception module 600 (FIG. 15) which stacks the templates in piles of a predetermined value of units. The stacker comprises an intermittent geared motor and is controlled by the main control system 700. The templates are placed on a conveyor belt conveyor with the capacity to support and transport up to 300 kg. From the conveyor belt of the curing module, the plates are received in the band 601 (FIG. 15) whose length is perpendicular to the length of the band 501 of the curing module.

The main control system basically consists of a set of electronic elements that are used to control the speed of the feeder module band, the feeding module pacifiers, the feeder transport band to the alignment module, the rollers of this module of alignment, the band of the registration module, of printing, the band of the drying module, the band of the identification module and the band of the output module and stacking of templates.

The method for producing templates for inkjet printing plates using the integral system described herein comprises:

1. Turn on 700 main control and printing systems, feed the printing system 800 with information regarding, among others, typography, color, location of prints, digital stamps, etc.

2. Feed the main control system with values such as template size, number and location of printheads, number and location of curing stations, number of templates per stack of final product, etc.

3. Feed the sheet-shaped material to the feeder 100 and feed the template by template alignment module;

4. Automatically align the template or sheet sheet using alignment module 200;

5. Record the location of the templates with respect to the printheads using the location and registration module 300;

6. Print through the module 400 by UV inkjet the material covered with laminator and cure in the curing station 500 the UV ink; Y

7. Automatically stack the material or templates for vehicle plates through the receiving and stacking module 600.

The method includes the step of verifying by means of the verification module 550 that the prints on the template comply with what is requested by the printing system, where the verification stage can be carried out before or after the curing stage, being preferred afterwards of the curing stage.

The curing of the ink is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, provided that such conditions do not damage the rest of the template components, for example the laminator and / or the reflective material.

Claims

1. A modular integral system for printing templates for inkjet vehicle plates characterized in that it comprises:

- an automatic feed module (100),

- an alignment module (200),

- a detection and registration module (300),

- at least one inkjet printing module (400),

- at least one curing module (500) by UV,

- at least one template reading and certification module (550), and

- a template stacking module (600), wherein the above modules work in coordination with a main control module (700) print control module (800) in order to control the printing of templates for vehicle plates.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeding module comprises a feeding band (102) in coordination with a pacifier mechanism for feeding the templates to the alignment module by means of rollers, which in turn, it supplies the templates aligned to the registration module (300) in order to provide the work coordinates to the printing control system (800) so that it orders at least one printing module (400) that, through heads Print (401) the desired characters are printed and stored in a database.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that the alignment module comprises tapered rollers with the smallest diameter located near a guide bar (205) so that this bar It contains the templates that, due to the conicity of the rollers, tend to slide towards it and where the rollers comprise a mechanism driven by a geared motor and links (203) for the transmission of movement to the rollers.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that the alignment module further comprises a position sensor (302), which detects the start and end of the template and sends this information to the main control system (700) so that the information previously loaded in the database of the printing system can be coordinated with the printing system 800 in order to print to the register on the template.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that the alignment module works with the vacuum band (301), the vacuum band (301) comprises perforations to allow the suction of the template and therefore its attachment to this band (301), where the position sensor (302) is mounted on a base (303) that can be slid up and down in order to give it its correct position with respect to the upper face of the template in process.

The system according to claim 5, characterized in that the suction of this band (301) is generated by at least one suction turbine (304) placed just below the support plate (305) of the suction band ( 301), where the base (303) is placed on the arm (306) which allows the base to move horizontally across the band (301), where the number of turbines and the length of the band Suction (301) will depend on the number of templates, size and weight thereof among other factors.

The system according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one printing module comprises the vacuum band with perforations (301) which is driven by a transmission system controlled by the control system (700), the at unless a turbine is placed inside a suction box in order to focus the suction or vacuum on the upper part of the band (301), the vacuum band support (301) comprises perforations in order to allow the passage of air towards the suction box.

The system according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one printing module further comprises a printing head (401) that is mounted on a support (402) which allows the head to move upwards and descending, in turn, the support is mounted on a frame (403) which rests on both sides of the band (301), in order to allow the displacement of the print head and the support to place the head in the best printing position, the electrical connections are made through the bus (404) which allows the movement of the cables without risk of abuse for them.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one printing module prints at a maximum speed of 120 templates per minute with 90% filling of the template.

10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that downstream of the at least one printing module a curing module for UV ink is located by means of UV light, wherein the exposure time is controlled by the speed of the band (501) which no longer includes perforations, the speed of the band (501) is controlled by means of the printing control system (700), which can be located on site or remotely.

11. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that a certification module (550) is optionally placed immediately after the curing module.

12. The system according to claim 10, characterized in that after the at least one first printing module is optionally placed another print head (401) with its respective curing module (500).

13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that a certification module (550) is optionally placed immediately after the cured module (500).

14. The system according to claim 13, characterized in that perpendicular to the direction of advance of the templates the stacking module (600) is placed to stack the delivered templates, wherein the module advances non-continuously to give space to the placement of a new battery, the number of templates per battery is fed to the main control system (700), which is responsible for controlling the movement of a band (601) driven by a gearmotor mechanism, the height of the band ( 601) is manually or automatically adjustable by means of a motor activated lifting mechanism.

15. - An automatic feed module (100) for working with the system of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an impulse system comprising a motor (101) and any means of transmission of movement such as chains or bands for driving a means, medium of transport (102) such as a band, a first feeding zone (ZA), opposite a template exit zone (ZS), the zone (ZA) comprises a horizontal receptacle generally in the form of a rectangular box opened by the part superior, within which the templates are housed

(103) for vehicular plate, the templates (103) are transported by means of the band 102 to a separation zone to be subsequently placed on a perforated conveyor suction band (105).

16. The module according to claim

15, characterized in that the rectangular box comprises two side walls (104) that run parallel to each other and comprise inner faces on which at least one guide (104a) and preferably two or more guides (104a) that prevent the vertical edges from being placed Side stencils rub against the inner faces of the side walls

(104), the feeder further comprises a frame (111) positioned sized so that the templates (103) pass through it, at least bolts (110) and at least one air blow nozzle (110a) are attached to this frame ) to blow air over the templates closer to the outlet and further favor the separation of the templates.

17. The feeder according to claim 16, characterized in that the bolts (110) are placed and slide horizontally to prevent the templates (103) from falling on a transition table (112), placed just below the frame (111) finishing the first part of the feeder, next to the transition table is a suction band with perforations (105) in order to transport the templates to a next work station, the table comprises on its upper face at least one proximity sensor (113) to detect the presence or not presence of a template involuntarily dropped on this table and whose signal is sent a main control system (700).

18. The feeder according to claim 17, characterized in that it further comprises a pacifier mechanism comprising at least two pacifiers (114) and two stops (115) working together to take the plates one by one, by suction, which are located just outside the frame (111), the feeder comprises a pneumatic system to provide the necessary air flow to propitiate the suction between the pacifiers and the insoles and to blow air through the at least one nozzle (110a) .

19. The feeder according to claim 18, characterized in that in addition the conveyor belt (102) is driven by means of a geared motor (101) and the pacifier mechanism is driven by means of a geared motor (118), the respective motors comprise Electromechanical devices (encoders) for the electronic regulation of their working speed.

20. The feeder according to claim 19, further characterized in that it comprises a rectangular box floor (106) constituted by the band (102) and a fixed support bottom, the band 102 is placed on the fixed floor, at the end of the rectangular box begins a decline of it with an angle of approximately 30 ° + 10 ° with respect to the horizontal, the walls that laterally circumscribe this decline are continuation of the walls (104), as well as the guides (104a ). The floor of this inclined part (also called the separation zone) comprises a floor (109) on which guides (108) are placed.